How Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Helped Me Survive to Battle Bipolar Depression

ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) gave me a second chance at life so I could love my little girl Ten years ago if you told me I'd beg a stranger to attach electrodes to my head to zap me out of despair, my retort would've been: No way! Life always has a way of surprising us. My life's biggest surprise was being diagnosed with postpartum bipolar disorder (bipolar, peripartum onset). Six weeks postpartum, I was manic and oblivious to the inevitable crash that follows bipolar mania. When depression descended, it was vicious. I tried numerous medications, but my depression wouldn't budge. When my father died, my depression intensified more than I ever could've anticipated. Apart from my husband, I considered my dad to be my best friend. He too had bipolar disorder, and when I called him about my bipolar diagnosis, he cried. He said, "I feel guilty for passing the genes on to you." Dad's health began failing during his 70s. Each time when it seemed he reached his end, he'd make a miraculous recovery. But no matter how many remarkable recoveries Dad made, I knew someday I'd lose him forever. I dreaded each day knowing I might get The Call. When I was told my father died, I became catatonic. My depression plummeted to depths it never reached before. I asked my husband to take me to the hospital because I was experiencing suicidal ideation. At the hospital I told the staff I had bipolar disorder, I was medication-resistant and I felt suicidal. I hoped I'd be a candidate for E...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news